White film

[OtisFA18]

Getting back into the hobby setting up a RedSea Reefer 250. I have live sand (Carib sea) and live dry rock (Caribsea life rock). Develops a white coating EVERYWHERE. Sump, inside glass of tank, power heads, skimmer went full nuts so white spray inside sump compartment. Has a powdery look but sticks to everything and forms a film. I though it salt due to evaporation but that doesn’t make sense deep in the tank. Have cleaned everything. Pumps are off and I see the particulate suspended in the water. Any idea?

 

[vetteguy53081]

A picture under white lighting would be very helpful
From your description, sounds like it may be what is known as chrysophytes.
If so, you will need to remove Rick and scrub in a bucket of tank water with toothbrush and hydrogen peroxide
After cleaning, add chitons and a pin cushion urchin for continued control

 

[AnglerFishGuy]

I've used CaribSea live sand several times with no issues. My current build (a couple of weeks ago) I used their live sand and life rock the same as you. This time I had severe cloudiness with the dust sticking to everything. The sump was colored white within an hour or so. I just left it running with a filter sock on, wiping and blowing the dust off walls and rocks every 6 hours or so. It was clear in about 2 days. All is good now. I've never had their live sand cloud up like that though so no idea as to why it happened.

 

[OtisFA18]

A picture under white lighting would be very helpful
From your description, sounds like it may be what is known as chrysophytes.
If so, you will need to remove Rick and scrub in a bucket of tank water with toothbrush and hydrogen peroxide
After cleaning, add chitons and a pin cushion urchin for continued control

 

[vetteguy53081]

The filaments suggest either either chrysophytes or calothrix. I think chrysophytes.